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Author Topic: First rifle!  (Read 6366 times)

Offline Stickerbush

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First rifle!
« on: July 31, 2011, 10:17:03 AM »
So Ive pretty much bow hunted for the last few years and havent been able to purchase a rifle except for a .22. But after a few months of reading articles, posts and asking around I finally picked up my new Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .308win! It has a synthetic stock and a nikon buckmaster 3x9x40 scope. Pretty excited for it looking forward to rifle hunting for deer for the first time this year. took it to the range for the first time and was hitting some pretty good groupings at 50 yards, will increase distance gradually as I get more comfortable with shooting it. Used 150 grain remington core lokt bullets and thats what I will probably use for deer. Been looking forward to this for a long time, nothing like the first centerfire rifle!
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Offline Huntbear

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2011, 10:19:22 AM »
So Ive pretty much bow hunted for the last few years and havent been able to purchase a rifle except for a .22. But after a few months of reading articles, posts and asking around I finally picked up my new Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .308win! It has a synthetic stock and a nikon buckmaster 3x9x40 scope. Pretty excited for it looking forward to rifle hunting for deer for the first time this year. took it to the range for the first time and was hitting some pretty good groupings at 50 yards, will increase distance gradually as I get more comfortable with shooting it. Used 150 grain remington core lokt bullets and thats what I will probably use for deer. Been looking forward to this for a long time, nothing like the first centerfire rifle!

You will really enjoy that rifle..  The caliber is a great choice as well.  Now it becomes an addiction, soon you will be reloading...   :chuckle:
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Offline Stickerbush

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2011, 10:59:58 AM »
yea I definately want to get into reloading someday, is it much cheaper than buying regular? or does it price out the same?
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Offline Huntbear

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2011, 11:06:06 AM »
You can also install a sweet aftermarket trigger in that rifle.  Will go a long ways to making you like it even more.

As for reloading, the initial set up can be a bit expensive, but once you get into it, and start shooting a lot, it is much cheaper to reload.

My .338 WM reloads cost me about 1.20  a shell.  Retail for factory ammo for the same bullet, case, etc... 3.50 a shell.
By my honorable conduct as a hunter let me give a good example and teach new hunters principles of honor, so that each new generation can show respect for their god, other hunters and the animals, and enjoy the dignity of the hunt.

Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist'.

Offline SkookumJeff

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2011, 11:46:58 PM »
You can save a LOT of money reloading ammunition when loading for expensive cartridges, obscure cartridges, magnum cartridges, etc., but you won't save much money loading .308 win.  Probably one of the least expensive cartridges to buy ammo for and you will find it hard to reload ammo that shoots better than factory ammo for less money than factory ammo.

Skook

Offline bobcat

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2011, 11:55:23 PM »
Nice rifle, I really like it, and the entire set up you've got there. Best thing you could do would be to change the trigger (as someone said) and that should last you a lifetime.

Offline sebek556

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2011, 12:03:27 AM »
 :tup: i love my m77 platforms..

Offline pat riotic

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2011, 12:18:30 AM »
i have the same scope on my tikka t3 lite 30-06, you will love that scope good luck this year!
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Offline C-Money

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2011, 08:34:42 AM »
yea I definately want to get into reloading someday, is it much cheaper than buying regular? or does it price out the same?
Probably wont save much money reloading for the .308, but you sure get a great sence of satisfaction getting tight groups and harvesting game from ammo that YOU made. I really enjoy reloading too. My family likes me to make their "pet " loads for them. My Brother in-law just purchased the same set up you did only he got a .270win. His rifle is a tack driver, I am sure yours will be too. I helped him sight in his 270 and I shot a tighter group with his Ruger .270 than I could shoot with my Browning .270! Enjoy!
I felt like a one legged cat trying to bury a terd on a frozen pond!

Offline Stickerbush

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2011, 07:46:28 PM »
thanks all, yea I was just curious about the reloading aspect but I cant complain about 308 prices. Lookin to harvest a deer this year with it, archery hunting for elk. Might scout around for bear too if I can get sighted in with some 180gr, other than that its a great set up and I got a great price on it
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Offline Stickerbush

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2011, 07:48:46 PM »
You can also install a sweet aftermarket trigger in that rifle.  Will go a long ways to making you like it even more.

As for reloading, the initial set up can be a bit expensive, but once you get into it, and start shooting a lot, it is much cheaper to reload.

My .338 WM reloads cost me about 1.20  a shell.  Retail for factory ammo for the same bullet, case, etc... 3.50 a shell.

yea what could I expect from a new trigger? I really havent shot too many rifles at all so I dont know what the difference would be with a aftermarket trigger. But I am all for it if it helps
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Offline marlin

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2011, 07:21:49 PM »
Sweet rifle! I reload for .308 and its not so much savings as better ammo for surplus price. It costs me about 9.50/box of 20 for high quality ammo. So basically you can load supreme ammo for around .50 cents a shot, which is about what cheap steel cased fmj crap will run you in loaded ammo.

Offline addicted

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2011, 09:08:30 PM »
That rifle will do it all. Good choice.

what was the price tag?
"Right now, I am thinking that If my grandmother was here, she would be lecturing me about how there are poor people in Africa, that would just love to have a Ruger, I would just say "Great, granny, lets just ship all the Rugers to Africa!"


Loving life in the Great Northwest one day at a time.

It sounds like it's time to get a new gun.

Offline Stickerbush

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2011, 09:08:41 AM »
it totaled six bills with tax for the rifle and scope. It is actually slightly used, in my post I meant my "new" rifle. But yea its in near perfect condition for a slightly used rifle and I really couldn't pass it up. It will do just fine for my purposes
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Offline addicted

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Re: First rifle!
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2011, 09:14:56 AM »
It will do just fine for my purposes

I'm sure it will be more than fine.
"Right now, I am thinking that If my grandmother was here, she would be lecturing me about how there are poor people in Africa, that would just love to have a Ruger, I would just say "Great, granny, lets just ship all the Rugers to Africa!"


Loving life in the Great Northwest one day at a time.

It sounds like it's time to get a new gun.

 


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